Root growth in fabric containers

Some nurseries
produce trees in fabric containers in field soil. The fabric restricts, but
does not prevent, roots from growing into the soil outside the fabric container.
Root balls of field-grown trees are similar to those grown in fabric containers
except that the fabric container root ball is smaller (Gilman
et al 1992). Applying irrigation and fertilizer only to the top of the root
ball can help increase roots in the ball compared to applying it to a larger
area around the container (Beeson
and Gilman 1995).
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